Improvement in trusses



C. SEIDEL.

TRUSS.

Patented June 13 W5 rue-mes N. PETERS. PNOTO-LITHOGRAFNER, WAQHINGTON D C,

NI'IED STATES PATENT OFFIC (IARL SEIDEL, OF HANOVER, PRUSSIA.

lMPRdVEMENT IN TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,804, dated June 13, 1876 application filed May 16, 1876.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL SEIDEL, of the city of Hanover, Prussia, have invented certain Improvements in Hernia-Bandages, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object the production of a truss which, when adjusted upon the body of its wearer, shall afford the necessary pressure upon the diseased part, and the truss-pad not be liable to misplaceinent by any movement of the body of the person wearing it.

It consists in the peculiar construction of the spring-band by which the truss-pad is supported upon the body, as will be particularly hereinafter set forth.

a The ordinary hernia-trusses are composed of a suitable pad, A, carried at. the end of a spring-band, B, the parts being secured in place by an attaching-strap, (l, passing about the body and fastening to the spring-band B. This spring-band is one continuous plate of metal, and consequently partakes of all of the movements of the body.

To guard against the displacement of the pad, it is commonly attached to the springband by a pivot; but this construction will not allow of the free action and movement of the body without displacing the pad, which seriously injures the diseased part.

In order to keep the pad in the exact position in which it is nicely adjusted upon the diseased part, according toits condition, and to enable it to exert the even and continuous pressure with which it should bear upon the diseased part, I have adapted the spring-band to these requirements by constructing it of several short spring-plates,-

a, which are curved inwardly to suit the shape of the human body, which plates overlap each other, and are pivoted together. They are thus capable of pressing the pad A inwardly or against the body, being made of a strength to exert the required amount of elastic pressure; but in this part of their operation they do not differ essentially from the common truss. In order to permit this spring-band to change the position in which it lies when adjusted upon the body, while regained, it is necessary for the spring-band to recover its normal position. This is accom plished as follows: Each spring-plate a has its rear end inclined at o and beveled 011', as at w, for a purpose which will presently appear. An auxiliary spring, d, is attached by rivets to each of the spring-plates a, the free end of which auxiliary spring rests upon the I rear edge of the spring-plate a, next in advance of the one to which the auxiliary spring is attached. These auxiliary springs d serve to retain the several spring-plates a in proper alignment with each other, and when the body of the wearer is so moved as to swing the plates at upon their pivots, if their movement is upward, the end of the springs 01 will bear upon the plates at the points 0, in advance of their pivots c, and the resiliency of these springs will serve to return the plates back to their normal positions when the force which displaced them is removed. When the plates are swung downward the springs d will have their bearings at the points a: on the ends of the plates at in the rear of their pivots, when the tendency of the springs will be to return the plates to their normal posi- I tion.

The distortion of the spring-band B is thus provided for in all directions, and it can thus adapt itself to the movements of the abdominal muscles, to those of the thighs, or any motion of the body, without afl'ecting the position of rest in which it is necessary to retain the pad A.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A truss-band consisting of many spring- 1 In testimony whereof I have signed my plates, pivoted together so 'as toswing upon name to this specification in the presence of each other, substantially as shown a'ntl detwo subscribing witnesses. scribed. V I y 2. Atruss-band consisting of pivoted spring- Witnesses:

plates at and auxiliary springs 01, substantially SEYMOUR VAN NOSTRAND,

as shown and clescyibed. R. R. SGHMIRK.

CARL SEIDEL. 

